Some cheeks were wet with tears and friends exchanged hugs after
Baraboo High School Principal Machell Schwarz announced Monday she
is leaving the district for DeForest.

During the regular School Board meeting board President Kevin
Vodak announced Schwarz had made the previously unexpected decision
to resign. The meeting agenda was amended to include action on the
issue, and board members accepted her resignation with little
discussion.

In a letter dated Monday, Schwarz announces she is resigning her
position effective Friday. She will be the new principal at
DeForest Area High School.

"I have struggled greatly with this decision, but feel that it
is in the best interest of me and my family," she wrote.

District Administrator Crystal Ritzenthaler told board members
Schwarz has agreed to help during August with planning for
transition to a new high school administration.

Schwarz is the third high-level administrator to leave the
district this summer, following North Freedom Elementary School
Principal Deb Janke and Pupil Services and Special Education
Director Tim Fosshage. All left for jobs in other school
districts.

Ritzenthaler said district officials do not have a set procedure
for replacing Schwarz, so they and the School Board will have to
decide what steps to take next. They could post the job opening
immediately and begin a selection process relatively soon, or hire
an interim high school principal so the district has more leeway in
selecting a new long-term principal.

Interim principals are commonly retired school administrators
who agree to fill in for school districts facing situations similar
to Schwarz's resignation, Ritzenthaler said.

Ritzenthaler said she is confident the administration can handle
the change and have little disruption - with Schwarz's help and the
backing of the strong teaching and administrative staff at BHS.

"I think Machell's left things in good order here," she said.
"And we've got great staff at the high school, and a great
administrative team.

"We still have two
associate principals and our athletic director," Ritzenthaler said.
"And the other administrators I’m sure will rally and make it
smooth."

Schwarz said she
learned only recently the principal’s post at DAHS had become open,
and after checking it out decided she wanted to make the
move.

"It’s an opportunity
to work with a district I think is a premier district in the state
of Wisconsin," she said. "I think I can step in based on where they
are right now and what their needs are, I think I can step in and
contribute to what they already have going there," Schwarz
said.

Schwarz is president
of the board of the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators.
In that role she said she has worked with DeForest Area School
District Administrator Jon Bales on various policy
issues.

"I knew the
superintendent there and it was just an opportunity I couldn’t pass
up," Schwarz said.

As Schwarz spoke BHS
band director Greg Lang came up and gave her a hug.
"Congratulations," he said. "DeForest, awesome, what a beautiful
school."

Schwarz had tears in
her eyes and a tremor in her voice as she said how much she will
miss her co-workers and the students at BHS. She said the decision
is a very sudden one for her, so she is aware members of the
community may feel shocked.